Monday, December 7, 2009

Over the weekend, mobile phone service providers changed the way they charge customers for voice calls. Under the new rate system, a voice call is charged an initial connection rate of P3 for the first 12 seconds, and P0.56 per succeeding 6 seconds.

Basak San Nicolas barangay captain George Rama said he received reports from a reliable source that people allied with the Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug) party are looking for a man who has the same surname as the vice mayor to field as their candidate for mayor.

Bogo mayoralty aspirant Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung said she was in no way involved in the incident where campaign materials were blessed on the altar of the San Vicente Ferrer Archdiocesan Shrine in the said town.

The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office temporarily suspended the preliminary investigation on the libel case filed by ex-monk Venancio Cabillon against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three other church officials to give way to mediation.

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Philippine government prosecutors started Monday the inquest proceedings against 24 persons, including former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr. and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, for the rebellion charges filed against them by the Philippine National Police.

Tension was high at the Davao Doctors Hospital Sunday night when soldiers forcibly took Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. out of his private room and transferred him to the military's health facility in Camp Panacan here.

The controversial Ampatuan clan on Monday joined the clamor for the Supreme Court to stop the government from imposing martial law in Maguindanao, accusing the government of having the penchant for violating the law.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales led the flag-raising ceremony at the Maguindanao provincial capitol on Monday morning to mark the first full day of martial law here, some two weeks after the November 23 massacre that killed 57 local politicians, supporters, and journalists.

The military has deployed more troops to Maguindanao as the search for more suspects in the November 23 mass killings of journalists and supporters of gubernatorial candidate and Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu continues.

A retired military general has admitted that it was the government that armed the Ampatuans. This was the statement of retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan who is making his rounds in the country as he announces his bid for a Senate seat in the May 2010 elections.

The government has moved to freeze the assets of the powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao amid questions over how its members have amassed so much wealth during their reign in the second poorest province in the country.

The Senate and the House of Representatives has decided to postpone until Wednesday the holding of a joint session to tackle the martial law imposed in Maguindanao by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The University of the Philippines community is urging members of Congress to overcome their political affiliations in scrutinizing the factual basis being cited by Malacañang for its martial law in Maguindanao.

Former Senate President Jovito Salonga and lawyers from the Center for International Law have asked the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law in Maguindanao.

MANILA, Philippines - The declaration of martial law in Maguindanao is, on its face, unconstitutional, a jurist said on Monday, while a Catholic bishop gave his imprimatur to the extraordinary measure.

Former Supreme Court Justice Vicente Mendoza, a known constitutionalist, said the imposition of martial law in the province lacked two essential elements, invasion and rebellion, which are the conditions set by the Constitution justifying it.

Mendoza, in a phone interview with abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak, observed that there is no invasion nor armed public uprising against the government that necessitated martial law.

At the very least, he said what appears to be happening in the province is resistance against government authorities, which is different to rebellion.

A lawmaker on Monday asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to likewise place Lanao del Norte under martial law, saying law and order have deteriorated in his home province. Oblivious to protests against Martial Law, administration ally Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo wants Martial Law extended to Pantao Ragat municipality in Lanao Del Norte.

Even as the political and security situation in Maguindanao remains volatile, the International Contact Group (ICG) involved in the peace negotiations between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front met Friday, it was learned Monday.

The President will prejudice the chances of her opponents Akbayan Rep. Rissa Hontiveros on Monday filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a petition to disqualify President Arroyo from the congressional race in Pampanga in 2010.

Former senator Francisco "Kit" Tatad has joined the senatorial ticket of the United Opposition, bringing to 10 the coalition's senatorial lineup for the May 2010 polls, according to the spokesperson of UNO standard-bearer Joseph Estrada.

MANILA, Philippines – With Congress shifting its focus from the 2010 budget deliberations to the issue of martial law in Maguindanao, some Senators are expecting the government may operate on a re-enacted budget for '"a short period" next year.

MANILA - A proposal to raise taxes on consumption and reduce the levy on income is being studied by the Finance department, with the hope that this could form part of the next administration's fiscal policy.

The Philippines could lose as much as $300 million worth of remittances from Filipino workers based in Dubai due to the debt woes of Dubai World, one of the flagship holding firms of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said.

The British government has forged a cooperative agreement with Philippine banks in an attempt to crack down on United Kingdom (UK) visa fraud, an increasing number of which involve Filipino nationals with fake bank documents.

MANILA – It's all systems go for the blockbuster fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., much to the surprise of fight fans who were expecting grueling negotiations between the fighters' camps on the revenue split.

NEWCASTLE - Amir Khan has the potential to rise through the weight divisions and win multiple world titles like his training partner Manny Pacquiao, according to the British boxer's trainer Freddie Roach.

MANILA – Young actress KC Concepcion said marriage is not part of her immediate plans. In an interview during the farewell party of her first television series, "Lovers in Paris," Concepcion said "marriage can come later." She added that she is still focusing on her career.

MANILA – The family of embattled doctor Hayden Kho Jr. on Monday shot down all "sinister speculations," including his alleged suicide attempt, that surfaced following his sudden hospitalization last week.

MANILA - Ten of the housemates were able to breathe easy Saturday night. The merge of houses already began, with each housemate who was announced safe entering House A. It was home sweet home for Catherine "Cathy" Remperas, Johan Morielle Santos, Paul Jake Castillo, Steve "Tibo" Jumalon, and Jason Veron Francisco.

MANILA – Keeping "Cory Magic" alive is as easy as launching a commemorative book. ABS-CBN Publishing, in partnership with the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), and the Ayala Foundation recently launched a book titled "Cory Magic."

President Barack Obama told Bruce Springsteen that the rocker was indeed "the Boss," at an awards ceremony that also honored actor Robert De Niro, film director Mel Brooks, composer Dave Brubeck, and opera singer Grace Bumbry.

Mike Ditka - "If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms."